Spiders Could Fix Your Broken Bones

Study says silk screws are superior

Broken bones and compound fractures often lead to the insertion of metal plates and screws, a painful process that requires two surgeries and carries the risk of infection and swelling. Fortunately, a better alternative might be on the horizon, courtesy of our good friend the spider.

A paper published in Nature Communications outlines plans for bone screws made not from steel but from silk, the very same kind produced by spiders and silkworms. Rather than opening you up and ushering the critters inside to do their work—a nightmare scenario that should be reserved for history's greatest villains—the silk is harvested and concentrated, forming a substance that, ounce for ounce, is stronger than steel.

In addition to being stronger than their steel brethren, silk screws can conform to fit the repair site and carry a lower risk of infection and inflammation. The only problem is harvesting the stuff.

Spiders tend to kill and eat each other when kept in large numbers, and they don't produce silk at a constant rate. Companies looking to take advantage of spider silk for everything from construction to cosmetics are searching for alternative methods of gathering the prized material. One possibility is through bacteria. AMSilk, a German firm, has found a way to manufacture silk protein using modified E. coli bacterium. Silk genes are inserted into the bacteria, which alters its growth process so the bacteria begins to grow spider silk protein instead.

Meanwhile, Randy Lewis, a biology professor at Utah State University, has begun using genetically modified goats that produce spider silk protein in their milk. "The goats produce the protein when they are lactating," says Lewis. "We purify the proteins from the milk, dry it down, reconstitute it up, and get the material we can spin into fibers." The university is currently planning to move Lewis's operation into a new 70,000-square-foot facility.

"These long races are much more challenging psychologically than physically," says Spector, who reaffirms to his GoPro that "it's gonna be okay" throughout his trek.

About 70 athletes navigated Brazil's dirt roads and city streets, often in the sole company of grazing livestock. The pilgrimage traditionally takes hikers 12 to 15 days, but Spector finished in 32:49:20. Runner Oraldo Romualdo currently holds the race record with a finishing time of 24:41:30.

In exchange for bragging rights, Spector earned war wounds inclusive of giant blisters that took five weeks to heal.

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If you think this is water, urine for a surprise. Photo: 1971yes/Thinkstock

Astronauts to Recycle Urine for Drinking

Just in case of Tang shortage

Environmentalists use it as a rallying cry to conserve water, pledging not to flush solely liquid waste. But what if we could actually recycle urine? Scientists think they might have found a way to do just that—and their plan to test it is literally out of this world.

Urine recycling has emerged to remedy one of the messier aspects of space travel. As we watch majestic YouTube videos of astronauts performing David Bowie tunes, we easily forget the brass tacks of space travel, one of which is the collection and disposal of waste. NASA already engineers its spacecraft and missions for maximum efficiency, but it's always looking for ways to improve.

Drinking water from urine isn't the only thing these scientists have up their sleeves. The system they developed to separate urea from urine converts the substance to ammonia and then into energy.

Although the procedure was designed with space travel in mind, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see how a technique to convert urine into energy and clean drinking water could drastically change life back here on Earth. So, you're on notice, Al Gore: Start working on a new slogan to describe this convenient truth.

Sparking the new initiative, Walmart's internal research found that 91 percent of its customers would buy organic foods if they were affordable. Jumping on the bandwagon, Target also announced earlier this week that it would expand organic offerings as well.

"Younger people are much more interested in the chemistry of their lives, and so for them the issue of pesticides is a troubling one," Lynn Clarkson, founder of Clarkson Grain, told the New York Times.

To keep prices down, Walmart aims to take out the middlemen and strike long-term deals with farmers to create a direct supply chain.

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Lance Armstrong. Photo: Grayson Schaffer

Armstrong Names Drug Providers

First details since "Doprah" show

During testimony for a lawsuit against Lance Armstrong by the Acceptance Insurance Company in November, the cyclist cited people involved with his doping practices to investigators. The names were released Wednesday—his first publicly revealed answers under oath since his confession to Oprah Winfrey in January 2013.

According to the testimony, Armstrong's longtime sport director, Johan Bruyneel, "participated in or assisted with Armstrong's use of PEDs, and knew of that use through their conversations and acts." Bruyneel was not named in Armstrong's confession to Oprah Winfrey in January 2013.

Armstrong also named those who were involved with blood transfusions to bolster oxygen levels in his blood and those who assisted in the delivery of the drugs, VeloNews.com reports. Four men, all part of his cycling entourage, provided Armstrong with performance-enhancing drugs: trainer Pepe Marti, Dr. Pedro Celaya, Dr. Luis del Moral, and Dr. Michele Ferrari.

During Armstrong's career from 1995 to 2010, former U.S. Postal team soigneur Emma O'Reilly delivered him drugs and supplies. Bike mechanics Julien de Vriese and Philippe Maire were also named.

Armstrong also revealed that team manager Mark Gorski, a gold medalist at the 1984 Summer Olympics, along with Armstrong's coach and former pro Chris Carmichael, were aware of his use of PEDs, USA Todayreports. Carmichael knew as early as 1995.

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A PhD candidate at MIT is creating drones that can recharge by perching on power lines. Photo: xyno/Getty Images

These Drones Charge Themselves

Without having to land

MIT genius Joseph Moore is creating an unmanned aerial vehicle that can alight on power lines to recharge its batteries. It would never have to land.

According to PhD candidate Moore, a drone with a magnetometer should effectively be able to "see" the magnetic fields emitted by power lines. It could then fly toward the source and perch on the line, just like an overgrown, electronic bird.

The technology could enable UAVs to travel almost unlimited distances, making Amazon's drone delivery program much more plausible, but there's no word yet on when this system will become a reality for commercial use.

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Persistent fumes from the production of Sriracha "Rooster Sauce" have created health hazards and legal disputes in Irwindale, California. Photo: Swanksalot/Flickr

Irwindale residents say fumes produced while creating the spicy condiment, famous for putting hot sauce junkies satisfactorily in tears, put them in pain too—involuntarily. The list of complaints is extensive, including irritated eyes and throats, headaches, heartburn, nosebleeds, and an objectionably pungent odor.

The council plans to adopt an official resolution soon, after which Huy Fong Foods will have 90 days to stem odor issues. Air quality tests by the South Coast Air Quality Management District have concluded that carbon filters could solve Huy Fong Foods' odor problems, and the company says it expects to fix the problem by June 1.

Although Irwindale has many bones to pick with Huy Fong Foods, Councilman Albert Ambriz told the Los Angeles Times that the town doesn't want the wildly successful company to leave.

"I respect the fact that they are here. But they know there's a problem and it needs to be fixed," Ambriz said.

Should Huy Fong Foods miss the 90-day deadline, the council declared its right to enter the factory and implement (potentially costly) change itself. Huy Fong Foods' attorney John Tate smells a rat.

"The city council is determined to assert its authority regardless of the status of the odor remediation efforts," Tate said.

Thriving and Dying in a Hotter Southwest

Birds and reptiles feel the burn

U.S. Geological Survey scientists found that the climate change predicted for the American Southwest during the next 60 to 90 years might drastically alter the breeding range of native bird and reptile populations.

Northern Arizona University scientists modeled the projected change here—with an almost 20 percent drop in precipitation said to hit the species from now until 2099.

Among those thriving as the Southwest starts cooking is the Sonoran desert tortoise. Reclassified to differentiate the ancient desert species from his Mojave Desert cousin, the tortoise should remain where it is if "the dogs" stay away. Human networks and invasive dog species—not climate change—threaten the tortoise, now classified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as vulnerable to extinction.

Black-throated sparrow.
Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto/MikeLan

Thriving: Black-throated sparrows live where creosote bushes grow. They should see a breeding range increase of 34 to 47 percent. The gray vireo (another dry-heat bird) should see a 58 to 71 percent spike.